Crimson Desert has beaten Pokemon Pokopia

Pearl Abyss' open world RPG Crimson Desert has officially surpassed Pokemon Pokopias Metacritic user rating. Fans have been fervent in their support for Crimson Desert in the wake of its release, and this has been reflected in one of the highest Metacritic user ratings of the year so far.

Crimson Desert and Pokopia are two of the biggest releases of 2026. Both games quickly surpassed huge sales milestones thanks to great word-of-mouth, and undoubtedly appeal to very different audiences. Crimson Desert is a sprawling open-world RPG, while Pokopia is more of a cozy life simulator. It's great to see titles thriving across platforms and genres, and it's an early sign that 2026 will be another very strong year for new releases after an excellent first month.

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Crimson Desert has a rule you need to learn early

Crimson Desert looks like a game you can rush through, but learning to slow down and explore its world is key to avoiding its toughest roadblocks.

In the weeks after Crimson Deserts release, fans have flooded the game's Metacritic page with reviews to share their feelings about the game. Among critics, Crimson Desert received a slightly more mixed reception, with a 77 Metascore compared to Pokopiais 89. But with fans, Crimson Deserts Metacritic user score is superior and currently stands at 8.8. In comparison, Pokopia has a user score of 8.6. Still an excellent result, but not quite enough to put it ahead of Pearl Abyss's latest RPG right now. Perhaps the most impressive thing here is the sample size. While Pokopia has over 1,300 user reviews, Crimson Desert maintains its 8.8 average with over 10,000, a strong indication of how fans feel about the game.

Crimson Desert's The Metacritic user score of 8.8 makes it the second highest rated game of the year by this measure, with Pokopia sits third. The only game above the pair is Resident Evil Requiemwhich has a user score on the site of 9.4. Given RE Requiems wide critical acclaim this will come as little surprise. The gap is quite significant, which will make it difficult for both games to catch up, even with very positive future reviews.

Despite its incredibly strong user ratings, the critical reception of Crimson Desert means that the chances of being nominated for this year's game are extremely small. If it managed to nab a nomination for the top prize at The Game Awards 2026, it would be the lowest-rated game in history to do so. The difference between critics' and users' scores will make for a fascinating conversation later this year. Historically, critical reviews have carried more weight when it comes to major award nominations, so it will be interesting to see if Crimson Desert can buck the trend.

One of the most impressive things about Crimson Desert is the rate at which the developer has fixed issues and added new content to the game. Pearl Abyss seems to be listening to all player feedback so far and acting quickly to ensure the best possible experience. In the long run, this will foster a good relationship between the developer and its community, which will only help its user reviews. It remains to be seen if the studio has any plans for potential DLC, with nothing confirmed at this time.